Commercial ships are crossing Hormuz in darkness, relying on US coordination amid escalating tensions. (Image: X) Despite escalating tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, a small number of commercial vessels are continuing to navigate the strategic waterway by employing unusual tactics and coordinating closely with the US military, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. The report says some ships, including large crude oil and liquefied natural gas tankers, have been sailing in what the maritime industry calls "dark mode," switching off their Automatic Identification Systems (AIS) to reduce their electronic visibility and lower the risk of being targeted by Iran. AIS transponders are normally used by ships to broadcast their location and avoid collisions. However, turning them off makes vessels significantly harder to track electronically. According to the Journal, shipowners and US officials said vessels transiting the strait remain in communication with American military personnel, who use radar, drones and surveillance systems to monitor traffic and provide guidance during the crossing. The US military has reportedly advised commercial ships on when to go dark and how to respond to potential Iranian threats while passing through the narrow waterway, one of the world's most critical oil transit routes. The successful passage of even a handful of vessels has provided what the report described as a "tiny relief valve" for global energy markets, which have been rattled by fears of disruption in the Gulf. Some of these ships have reportedly used a route through the Persian Gulf that was previously secured under a US-led initiative known as "Project Freedom," which involved naval and air escorts for commercial traffic. Although the operation was later suspended after Iranian attacks on vessels and restrictions imposed by Saudi Arabia on US military access, the report said American forces had already helped establish a relatively safer corridor by clearing mines with underwater robotic systems. Captain Tim Hawkins, a spokesperson for the US Central Command, told the newspaper that the military remains "continually communicating and coordinating with ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz." The report further noted that US forces recently destroyed Iranian mine-laying boats and struck missile and drone sites in what officials described as defensive actions aimed at protecting maritime traffic. Among the vessels that successfully transited the strait was a Greek-owned supertanker carrying approximately two million barrels of crude oil. The tanker had reportedly remained stranded in the Persian Gulf since early March before eventually departing earlier this week. Maintaining contact with US officials, it sailed along Oman's coastline and is now en route to India. The Journal reported that Greek shipowners whose vessels have successfully made the crossing are now fielding requests from customers seeking similar arrangements for their cargo shipments. Data from maritime intelligence firm Kpler, cited by the newspaper, showed that fewer than five vessels per day have undertaken dark transits through Hormuz since March 2. That is a dramatic decline from normal conditions, when more than 100 ships crossed the strait daily.